Towards the in vitro reconstitution of caveolae. Asymmetric incorporation of glycosylphlosphatidylinositol (GPI) and gangliosides into liposomal membranes

Large unilamellar vesicles consisting of phospholipids with or without chol esterol have been prepared containing GPI and/or gangliosides asymmetricall y located in the outer leaflet of the bilayer, Such asymmetric distribution of GPI and gangliosides is found in 'rafts' and caveolae, Using these vesi cles, GPI can be readily hydrolysed by phospholipases. Both cholesterol and ganglioside are seen to inhibit, in an additive way, the hydrolytic activi ty of GPI-specific phospholipase D. (C) 1999 Federation of European Biochem ical Societies.